Application of a token economy system to increase the number of arithmetic problems worked correctly in a first grade classroom

Abstract:

This study was designed to implement an effective token economy in a first grade classroom taking into consideration such existing conditions as (1) the amount of time the classroom teacher could devote to the study, (2) available resources, and (3) the classroom teacher's knowledge of behavioral techniques. That teachers must find behavioral techniques reinforcing if they are to be utilized effectively was a working assumption throughout the study.This study indicates that an effective token economy can be implemented in a primary school setting requiring approximately one hour of time and one dollar per week to maintain. That there was an average increase of 29% in the number of arithmetic problems worked correctly indicates the effectiveness of a token economy system.